Dictionary.com Word FAQs

I need help with there/their/they're. How can I make sure I use the right form?

The confusion stemming from these words is that they are homophones: they have the same pronunciation but differ in meaning and/or derivation. There is a location, their is the possessive case of the personal pronoun they, and they're is a contraction for they are. If you have written they're, ask yourself if you can substitute they are. If you have written their, ask yourself if the thing referred to belongs to someone, as in: Their seats were taken when they left to go to the bathroom. For there, use this hint: it has here as part of it, which reminds you that you should be talking about a place. For their, use this hint: it has heir as part of it, which reminds you that you should be talking about possession.